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99 of 101 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Much better than the usual serial/genre mystery, September 14, 2005
This review is from: The Ghost and the Dead Deb (Haunted Bookshop Mystery) (Mass Market Paperback)
First off I should say that I'm not a frequent reader of any mysteries--particularly not of the contemporary series that are so ubiquitous now: mysteries for foodies, coffee drinkers, pet lovers, garderners, piano tuners, lion tamers--you name it--it's been done. I've dipped into several of them, and usually I'm disppointed by generically "quirky" characters and, especially, contrived dialogue and/or predictable situations. Still, I'm a lover of classic films and ghost stories, as well as getting into the mystery mood by a recent re-discovery of the exceptional "Mr. and Mrs. North" series of the 1940s. How gratified I was to find that after impulsively buying "The Ghost and the Dead Deb" at my local mystery bookshop it's just as worthy an effort as the better books written some 60 years ago.
The author manages to create believable characters--both living and dead, and even work in a frisson of romance--just enough to be wonderfully satisfying. It's been a long time since I've found a lead female character who doesn't irritate the heck out of me by her shallowness or unreal behaviour. This one is carefully drawn. The mystery itself is tops, but most importantly you just plain care about these people. Here's a real writer! Looking forward to more.
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47 of 52 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
strong second entry in the series, September 2, 2005
This review is from: The Ghost and the Dead Deb (Haunted Bookshop Mystery) (Mass Market Paperback)
i enjoyed the first book in this series a lot, and was a bit worried about the second, since so many second books don't match the first. but this one is as enjoyable as the first.
the plot is pleasantly twisty, and the denoument is handled not only dramatically, but also sensibly and effectively--our heroine does not place herself in unnecessary danger, uses her wits, and is finding more strength of character in this outing. the byplay between her and jack, the ghost of a private investigator, is amusing. both of them are believable personalities, and most of the supporting cast is also well drawn.
there are a couple of spots in the supernatural part of the story that are farfetched, even for the supernatural, but that's a minor problem.
this is an enjoyable cozy, with more depth than most of the genre, and the characters' identities and relationship are evolving nicely.
i certainly hope there's less time between this book and the next than there was between the first and this. and i hope the publisher puts more effort into promoting this series than the paltry synopsis suggests.
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Good Series Becomes Great, September 11, 2006
This review is from: The Ghost and the Dead Deb (Haunted Bookshop Mystery) (Mass Market Paperback)
I love this series! I was iffy on the first book wondering just how the author was going to convince me that there was a palpable heat between a ghost and a very much alive young woman, but she did, and now I'm into this series for the long haul. The frequent glimpses into Jack's past were enjoyable and the construct of Penelope joining him is an interesting twist with room to grow. This entry was a great deal more enjoyable than the series entry, though the first wasn't bad, quite the contrary. The main characters, both living and dead, have become fleshed out and three-dimensional. The plotline involving a tell-all is relevant to today's unfortunate influx of people who are famous for simply being omnipresent, young, and wealthy and the ridiculous gossip they generate to keep themselves in the spotlight. I love the shots the book took at some of these celebutantes and their unnecessary and tiring antics. The secondary characters are also coming along nicely and the quaint setting is simply delicious. I highly recommend this series, especially if you love the movie, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, this is a must read for you, in fact it is just a must read.
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